Things to do in Chichester Marina and Chichester Harbour

Why go to Chichester Harbour?

Chichester Harbour is a vibrant hub of activity, offering a diverse range of experiences for both novices and seasoned boating enthusiasts. But it’s not just about boating; there’s something for everyone to see and do.

First and foremost, Chichester Harbour spans a huge area (9,226 acres or 74 km2), stretching east of Hayling Island to East Head, Birdham, and Apuldram (or Appledram).

The natural harbour, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), divides into three main channels:

• Emsworth Channel
• Thorney Channel
• Chichester Channel – which also divides into Bosham Lake and Itchenor Reach

The harbour is a truly remarkable place to explore on foot along miles of public footpaths or by bike along designated cycle paths, so it’s not just a place for boaters.

Jack Holliday, Boat Sales Broker at Val Wyatt’s Chichester office, grew up in the area and spent his childhood living in Emsworth. He said, “Chichester Harbour is a special place. It’s very peaceful, but it comes alive on the weekends with family and friends out on the water. It is a great location and a fantastic community to boat in.”

Visit, and you’ll be immediately struck by the serene tranquillity that permeates Chichester Harbour, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Things to know

Chichester Marina, located at the eastern end of Chichester Harbour, is a boater’s paradise. It is one of the largest marinas on the UK’s South Coast, offering a perfect blend of modern amenities and natural beauty.

As you enter the harbour, four forks run through it. One goes to Emsworth, one to the side of Thorney Island, one to Bosham, and one to the Chichester end, which leads to Chichester Marina, the furthest east you can go in the harbour area.

Chichester Marina facilities

Chichester Marina’s amenities include a restaurant, a café and toilet facilities. In addition, all the boat brokers, including Val Wyatt, and a good range of marine services are situated here.

It’s a great starting point for rambles and, unsurprisingly, a favourite destination for dog walkers. The popular hamlet Dell Quay is nearby, with a 16th-century pub on the harbourside. You can stroll along to the pub from the Marina.

The Crown & Anchor pub offers spectacular views across the Harbour and features modern British cuisine with a focus on freshly landed fish and seafood. Boaters can easily pop there by boat from the marina, too. There’s a pontoon next to the Dell Quay sailing club if the tide is right.

The biggest bonus at Chichester Marina is 24-hour access to the picturesque cruising grounds of Chichester Harbour’s landscape.

According to Jack, another positive aspect of Chichester Marina is the warm and welcoming atmosphere fostered by its residents, service workers, and visitors. There’s a strong sense of community here that makes everyone feel at home.

Facilities for boaters at Chichester Marina

For the boating community, Chichester Marina offers excellent facilities. The lock-entry marina, run by Premier Marinas, provides extensive facilities, including luxury toilets and shower rooms. There’s also in-water berthing for boats up to 22 metres.

The marina is also home to two boatyard hoists, which can lift boats up to 65 tonnes. There is extensive storage ashore, coupled with a range of on-site marine services.

Premier Marina does a great job keeping the marina tidy and clean. It is a worthy recipient of five gold Anchor Awards from The Yacht Harbour Association (THYA), a credible measure of the marina’s quality. Any rated marina will have been subjected to a series of rigorous tests.

Tip re mooring: Many cheaper moorings don’t float all year round. Two hours on either side of low tide, the boat won’t be able to be used because it will be sitting in the mud. If you have a boat that won’t sit well on the sand sometimes, it’s worth paying more for in-water berthing, like that offered at Chichester Marina.

Boating for children

The sheltered harbour is ideal for children who are beginners and just starting their boating experience. The channels in the harbour are very calm, so it’s a great place to learn.

Many sailing clubs have race weeks for children:

• Emsworth Sailing Club runs Children on Water [COW] week, which aims to bring junior sailors of all ages together to consolidate sailing skills and boost confidence.
• Bosham Sailing Club has Bosham Junior Week.
• Itchenor Sailing Club runs Itchenor Junior Fortnight.

Boating events at Chichester Harbour

Chichester Yacht Club runs a lot of dinghy racing at weekends. A special four-day racing series in November and December is known as the Frozen Toe Series, and the Snowflake Series runs over five days during February, and March. These events are a great opportunity to witness competitive sailing and experience the vibrant boating community in Chichester Harbour.

In August, Chichester Harbour Race Week is an annual dinghy sailing regatta at Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC). With Hayling Island situated at the top of Chichester Harbour, it means some of the bigger races are on the Solent.

Many other club regattas and open events run across the harbour over the summer for all ages, usually at weekends but also some evenings.

Best boating routes in Chichester Harbour

Jack is adamant that the highlight of the harbour is the stunning sandy beaches of East Head. Situated right at the harbour entrance, “It’s the perfect spot on a sunny day,” he said. Also, it offers protection from the sea breeze and the Solent. There are sand dunes at East Head and a little cove area where you can moor your boat and go to the beach for the day. However, Jack warns that it does get busy at weekends in the height of summer.

It is the perfect trip to enjoy on a dayboat, such as our Interboat Intender 820: “The Intender 820 would be a fantastic choice of dayboat to take down to East Head. Many people will just find a space offshore and throw their anchor down, before swimming or paddleboarding to the beach.”

While East Head is a key attraction, there are also many sailing clubs in the area, which Jack says are great for visiting and stopping at for lunch. “You can sail around the corner to Itchenor and get lunch at the sailing club there or go to Bosham”.

There are a myriad of hidden creeks and quiet anchorages to explore.

Meanwhile, adventurous boaters can go further out to the waters of the Solent.

Tide tip: A big consideration when boating here is not getting caught out by the tides. For example, Emsworth almost completely dries out at low tide. It’s important to plan your boating activities around the tides and be aware of potential hazards.

Other things to do at Chichester Harbour

Boat trips run throughout the year on the conservancy’s solar boat Solar Heritage. During the summer, they also run on Terror, a restored Victorian Oyster Boat managed by the Friends of Chichester Harbour.

Stargazing in the areas around Chichester Harbour is phenomenal. Dark Sky Discovery Sites are a nationwide network of places that provide great views and are accessible to everyone. Local groups and organisations have nominated them as their top local spot to see the stars.

Three Dark Sky Discovery Sites were designated in Chichester Harbour in 2017:

• North of the John Q. Davis footpath in West Itchenor
• Maybush Copse in Chidham
• Eames Farm on Thorney Island

Visit the beautiful villages: Birdham is one of a handful of villages nestled within the harbour’s area of outstanding natural beauty and is a popular place to visit all year round. Birdham village is most well-known as the starting point of a four-mile-long canal towards Chichester.

Birdham Pool is the most notable part of the village, with a substantial number of boats moored at the Chichester Yacht Basin.

Other nearby villages worth a visit include Bosham, Chidham, Dell Quay, Emsworth, Fishbourne, Langstone, Northney, South Hayling, Southbourne, West Itchenor, West Thorney and West Wittering.

Find some of the great walking routes here.

Wildlife and birdwatching

Wildlife is extensive here, so there’s an eight-knot speed limit to protect it. Heavy boats are also subject to further speed restrictions.

Chichester Harbour is home to an abundance of incredible wildlife, from marine life to bird-filled skies. The harbour is also a hotspot for seals. If you go boating at low tide you will most likely find them bathing on the mud in and around the small creeks.

The harbour’s large tidal estuary is surrounded by woodlands, reedbeds, lagoons, wet grassland, and arable farmland and is vitally important for huge numbers of birds throughout the year. In the autumn and winter, thousands of ducks, geese and waders feed on the mudflats and salt marshes.

Which boat is best for Chichester Harbour?

Boating in Chichester Harbour is hugely popular. By far, the most popular boat seen around the harbour’s waterways is the rigid inflatable boat (RIB). But Jack says he’d love to see more people progress to more comfortable boats, like those in our Interboat range – with many models including a fridge, a toilet and more comfortable seating.

Getting there

Whether you are close by or coming from further afield, Chichester Harbour and Chichester Marina are easy to travel to, with road connections to Portsmouth and Southampton to the west and Worthing and Brighton to the east.

Val Wyatt: our Chichester boat showroom

Val Wyatt offers a selection of the finest hand-built boats on the market, crafted by exceptional brands known for their quality and excellence, including Corsiva, Interboat and Haines. An established boat broker service is also available for specific second-hand vessels.

Visit our showroom in Chichester to view our range of luxury boats. Come and discuss your boating needs with our team and schedule a test drive on the water. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm. Alternatively, call us on 01243 217485. Our boating experts will be happy to help you.